At the opening of this update, a Space Walk was and may still be taking place by those on the International Space Station. This was recorded earlier this morning and the station was flying to the West of New Zealand and the Tasman Sea.

However, the Tropical Warning Centre has just updated.

Headline:
Tropical Cyclone Owen is forecast to strengthen over the southern Gulf of Carpentaria before moving eastwards towards the QLD coast.


Areas affected:
Warning zone: Cape Shield in the Northern Territory, to Burketown in Queensland, including Groote Eylandt and Mornington Island..

Watch zone: None.

Cancelled zones: None.


Details of Tropical Cyclone Owen at 7:00 am AEST:
Intensity: category 1, sustained winds near the centre of 85 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 120 kilometres per hour.
Location: within 30 kilometres of 14.8 degrees South, 137.8 degrees East , 160 kilometres east southeast of Groote Eylandt and 215 kilometres northeast of Borroloola .
Movement: west northwest at 11 kilometres per hour .

Tropical Cyclone Owen is located northwest of Mornington Island. It is expected to be slow moving during Wednesday and then change course to move eastwards and back towards the Queensland coast on Thursday. It may reach category 3 intensity by Thursday morning if conditions remain favourable. A coastal crossing along the southeast Gulf of Carpentaria coast during Friday is most likely.


Hazards:
GALES with gusts up to 110 kilometres per hour may develop between Cape Shield and the NT/Qld Border, including Groote Eylandt, on Wednesday. On Thursday GALES may extend to Burketown, including Mornington Island, if the system follows a more southerly track.

DESTRUCTIVE WINDS with gusts to 130 kilometres per hour may develop in coastal parts near Borroloola and to the NT/Qld Border early Thursday if the system takes a more southerly track.

HEAVY RAINFALL is likely to develop about the islands and coastal areas of the western and southern Gulf of Carpentaria on Wednesday and Thursday.


Recommended Action:
The Territory Controller advises residents from Port McArthur to QLD/NT Border, and Groote Eylandt,
A CYCLONE IS COMING:
- Public shelters are now open If not sheltering at home, GO IMMEDIATELY to shelter with family, friends or at one of the public shelters - take your emergency kit with you DECIDE NOW AS HIGH WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN ARE COMING;
- Make final preparations to home shelter and take shelter as gales arrive;
- Businesses should shut now and send staff home or into shelter - DO NOT DELAY.

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